At Art of Animation guests can feel immersed in Disney storytelling, but is it a good choice for your Disney World trip? In this post I share my Art of Animation Resort review, our experience staying at the Finding Nemo family suites, and is it worth it for your trip?
Disney’s Art of Animation is the most “Disney” themed resort on property. With dedicated areas to The Little Mermaid, Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Lion King guests will love feeling like they are staying in the magic.
From the moment you step inside the lobby of Art of Animation you are surrounded by the creative designs of some of Disney’s best animated movies. If you are looking to stay inside the Disney bubble Art of Animation is a great choice!
Art of Animation Resort Review
Below is a quick overview of what to expect at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:
- Standard and Family Suites available.
- Most expensive of the value resorts.
- Best Disney themed resort on property.
- On-site pools, playgrounds, splash pad
- You do not need to stay at the resort to visit and are welcome to eat and explore the resort. Only guests staying at the resort can use the pools.
- Parking is free for guests on the resort.
- Complimentary bus and skyliner transportation is available to guests.
Location
Art of Animation is located in the Wide World of Sports area of the Walt Disney World Resort. Expect 20-25 minute drive from resort to Magic Kingdom, around 20 minutes to Animal Kingdom, and 15-20 minutes to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. This all depends on how quickly the buses, traffic, or skyliner are running on the day you visit.
There are no walking paths to any of the Disney parks from Art of Animation.
Perks for Guests that Stay On-Site at Disney World
- Complimentary Transportation
- Lightning Lane can be booked 7 days from first day of check-in.
- Early Theme Park Entry to all 4 Disney Parks, 30 minutes before park open.
- Free Water Park admission for guests on their arrival day. (Through 2025)
Transportation
Art of Animation is one of the Skyliner Resorts. These resorts are on the Disney Skyliner, a gondola transportation system that takes guests to and from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Skyliner can be a huge perk to save time when traveling to the theme parks. Guests wanting to visit the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom can use the Disney provided bus transportation.
Art of Animation Family Suite
Art of Animation resort has two types of rooms: Standard Rooms and the Family Suites.
The Standard Rooms are all themed with The Little Mermaid and will fit up to 4 people.
The Family Suites are themed to Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. These rooms fit up to 6 people. The Finding Nemo rooms typically cost the most because they are close to the lobby and the main pool.
The Little Mermaid Rooms have two double beds or one king bed and can fit up to 4 people. They are located in The Little Mermaid area of the resort.
This area is the farthest from the lobby but there is a parking lot close. Each area has a parking lot so you do not need to carry all your luggage through the entire resort.
The Little Mermaid area also has its own pool. We liked this pool because it was quiet and big enough for the kids to play. The area is also surrounded by Little Mermaid characters and is fun to explore.
There are three different Art of Animation Family Suites. They are Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and Cars. All of the family suites at the Art of Animation resort can accommodate up to 6 people.
For our trip we stayed at the Art of Animation Finding Nemo Family Suite.
There is a bedroom with a queen bed, two bathrooms, a pull out sofa, and a murphy bed. We loved the theme of the area and the room.
The family suites offer the same amenities across the resort but the theme is different depending on which you choose. The room is spacious and it is nice to have a separate bedroom and 2 bathrooms.
Finding Nemo:
- Largest Pool at Walt Disney World
- Playground
- Splash Pad
- Close to Lobby
- Busiest Pool
- Music is Played Under Water at the Pool!
- Rooms are themed to the characters from Finding Nemo.
- Typically cost about $10 a night more than the other suites.
Cars:
- Short walk to lobby
- Fun Cars photo-ops throughout the area.
- Best themed area of resort.
- Pool has cabanas that are on a first come first serve basis.
- Smallest pool at resort.
The Lion King
- Short walk to lobby.
- No pool.
- Fun play areas.
When deciding on Art of Animation accommodations it really comes down to personal preference. You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms. Your kids will love them all!!
If you have a kid who loves The Lion King stay there. Is there a princess in your family? The Little Mermaid room would be a great fit. You can explore any area of the resort and use all the pools and playgrounds so there is no wrong choice!
Amenities
Art of Animation has 3 pools, 2 playgrounds, an arcade, walking track, and a very Disney immersive themed decor. There are daily activities like trivia, art classes, and movie nights.
During check-in you will receive the guide to what is going on daily at the resort. Most days there are fun games at the pool in the afternoon and nightly outdoor movies are shown.
You can also learn how to be an artist with lessons in the lobby or spend time at the arcade. There is a gift shop and quick service food court on site.
Dining
Art of Animation has a main quick service eating area called Landscape of Flavors. It is a great quick service option and is easy for families that want to grab a quick bite or order a pizza after a long day at the parks. There is not a sit-down restaurant on property.
Is Art of Animation Worth It
We really enjoyed our stay at Art of Animation but is it worth the cost? I think it depends on what you are looking for in your Disney resort.
If you are a family of 4 or less, I think the cost of the standard rooms is worth it to be at the resort and on the skyliner.
If you are a family of five or more, like we are, it becomes more complicated. The family suites at Art of Animation can be over $400.00 a night and we could stay at a moderate resort that fits our family for less…or we can book two connecting rooms at the All-Star Sports resort like we did last year.
It ends up being less of a value resort when you start looking at the family suites. Everyone’s Disney budget is different and you have to weigh the pros and cons of the cost, and what type of resort you are looking for.
Honestly I do not think it is worth the cost for the family suites but my kids are older and we would rather spend our vacation budget on other things. I do not regret splurging on our stay when the kids were small. It is a really great option for families with little kids.
Overall my review of Art of Animation is that it is a wonderful resort with incredible theme for kids. It is on the higher end of the value price but we enjoyed our stay and would stay again.
Leah has been a Disney fan her entire life. From growing up with the movies to planning amazing Disney trips. She loves sharing her passion for Disney and helping others plan amazing Disney trips.
